Funeral of slain officer Didarul Islam shines light on Bangladeshis thriving in NYPD

The funeral of Didarul Islam, held at a Bronx mosque this week, was more than a solemn farewell to a fallen officer — it became a striking moment of visibility for a fast-growing Bangladeshi American community in the New York City Police Department (NYPD).

Detective Islam, who was killed during a mass shooting at a Midtown office building on Monday, was remembered by hundreds of officers and community members at the Parkchester Jame Masjid, reports the New York Times. 

His death has not only devastated the department but also resonated deeply within the Bangladeshi American Police Association — a group that now represents nearly 1,000 of the NYPD's 34,000 uniformed officers.

According to The New York Times, Islam immigrated from Bangladesh 16 years ago and represented a generation of Bangladeshi Americans who have increasingly found a foothold in New York's law enforcement ranks. 

The Bangladeshi American Police Association, founded in 2015, has since grown rapidly, making it the NYPD's second-fastest growing fraternal organisation. Its members include an inspector, four captains, and over 1,500 civilian employees within the department.

"For many of us, this loss feels like losing a brother," said Shamsul Haque, a founding member of the association, during a news conference. "He was more than a fellow officer — he was family."

The department's history is long entwined with waves of immigrant participation, from Irish and Italian Americans in earlier generations to Dominicans, Pakistanis, and now Bangladeshis. Nearly 12% of the NYPD's officers are Asian, and Bangladeshi Americans now represent one of the most prominent segments of that demographic.

Sergeant Ershadur Siddique, the association's current president, described joining the NYPD as both a career path and a form of community service. "Being police officers, it's a way to help the New Yorkers, to help the community," he told the New York Times. "It's to show that we are part of America, we are part of New York City, and being a police officer in New York City — it's known in the world that we're the best in the world — so it brings pride."

Detective Islam embodied that ethos, neighbors said. He encouraged local youth to join the force and worked to bridge gaps between the NYPD and the broader Bangladeshi community — which has nearly tripled in New York City over the past decade.

His death comes amid a time of heightened scrutiny and misinformation. After the shooting, Islam's Muslim identity became the target of false online claims linking the incident to terrorism — a reminder of the Islamophobia that helped prompt the creation of the association in the first place.

Yet the overwhelming response at his funeral — from fellow officers and civilians alike — underscored the respect he commanded and the legacy he leaves behind.

"He died in the line of defense. That's a very honourable death," said Hossain Mohd, a Bangladeshi American engineer who came to pay respects. "He did something for the country, that's something to be proud of."

Officer Mohammad Salam, a longtime friend and former colleague of Islam, was also at the mosque. "He was a great kid," he said. "He always tried to help the community. He made us proud."